Uncertainty, it is a word that is definitely in the lexicon of any worker in the American workplace. It is especially true for anyone who suddenly finds himself or herself laid off from the job, unemployed. There was a time that the longer you were with a particular company or firm, the more certain you were that your position was reasonably safe. In today’s business world, that is no longer the case. Five years or nineteen years on the job, we all can find ourselves escorted out of the office, with our personal belongings in a box or bag. We all can be standing on the street, wondering, what next? We all can be struggling with the sudden loss of certainty in our lives.

I was laid off in January, 2015, and I have been on the job search since then. I have been scanning the Web, looking at online job boards, filling out electronic job applications, and sending them out. Checking my e-mail box daily, and hoping that the phone will ring; and so far there have been no hits. I get dressed up and go to job fairs; I walk around scanning the tables. If I am lucky, I might find one table that offers possible positions that match my knowledge and experience. So I leave a resume, and hope for a call. In the meantime, my wife and I are taking steps to reduce the draw on our resources. So what our lifestyle will be in the future is also uncertain.

There can be so much uncertainty in one’s life, that it can wear a person down, and there are times that I can identify with the psalmist who the above words. These are the times when I turn to prayer, to reflection on Scripture, reflecting on the beauty of God’s Creation, to let a little light in, and experience some hope, some peace; the peace that comes only from God.

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4 thoughts on “Uncertainty in Life”

Personally I can relate to ‘Uncertainty’ on several levels. My husband and I lived through three years of uncertainty when our family was young. As a trained teacher he was told he was too qualified for many of the jobs he applied for. Endless walking around places. I was happy to get a cleaning job at the local school. This was not where I expected my life to be. (as an aside but as a holy truth……I spoke with one of the children’s dad when I was cleaning the toilets and we shared significant God Truths and faith issues. He told me he related to me more in that place than he ever did when I was the RI teacher to his children at the school. He also formed a deep friendship with my husband).. Years of uncertainty yes, heartbreaking and soul destroying we lost a lot in a material sense but in the valley can be the preparation time for a significant shift in the high place of God. This, in effect, happened to us. Like the psalmist we cried out. He answered and we look back now and marvel at the richness of His Presence with us (we were too focussed on what we did not have to SEE what we did). Prayers from us to HIM will flow for you and your wife. Now retired we live simply but look back and can Thank God we are stronger in faith for the valley.

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St. Anthony's Walnut Tree by Bonafacio De Pitata (Photo by Jack Wintz, OFM)

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All are welcome here. I hope you will find my random thoughts, reflections, and bits of news interesting. I write from a Franciscan and deacon's viewpoint about our Church, our country and our world.
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